Economic History
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course will provide students with basic knowledge of the dynamics of economic development in the long run, from the beginning of the early modern era to the late twentieth century. By combining narrative and interpretation, it will foster awareness of the complexity of modern economic growth and the multiplicity of factors - institutions, technology, markets, and policies - that have historically caused or inhibited it. Depth of historical perspective acquired via this course will contribute to strengthening students' understanding of some of the most pressing economic challenges that today's globalised world, and countries at different level of economic development within it, face along the path to sustained growth.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon successfully completing this course, students should be able to:
- Describe the main characteristics of pre-industrial economies and demography
- Understand the forces that caused the rise of northwestern Europe over southern Europe starting from the 16th century
- Explain the nature of modern economic growth and how and when it has been achieved in different regions of the world since the industrial revolution
- Explain the dynamics of globalization, the distributional effects it produces and concomitant historical reactions
- Understand the impact of economic crises, especially when coupled with financial crises and when addressed with ill-advised policy responses
- Discuss different explanations of long-run economic growth
- Draw parallels between current and past situations and issues.
Moreover, the course will hone students' analytical skills and further develop their ability to autonomously conduct research via group work assignments, which, by the same token, will train students' ability to effectively communicate the results of their research work, both orally and in written form.
- Describe the main characteristics of pre-industrial economies and demography
- Understand the forces that caused the rise of northwestern Europe over southern Europe starting from the 16th century
- Explain the nature of modern economic growth and how and when it has been achieved in different regions of the world since the industrial revolution
- Explain the dynamics of globalization, the distributional effects it produces and concomitant historical reactions
- Understand the impact of economic crises, especially when coupled with financial crises and when addressed with ill-advised policy responses
- Discuss different explanations of long-run economic growth
- Draw parallels between current and past situations and issues.
Moreover, the course will hone students' analytical skills and further develop their ability to autonomously conduct research via group work assignments, which, by the same token, will train students' ability to effectively communicate the results of their research work, both orally and in written form.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
introduction: economic history and globalization
the great divergence
the steady state of world economy
the rise of the west
the great transformation of the world economy
the ascent of the western economies
the economy of Asia before and after industrialization
the economy of the Americas before and after industrialization
the economy of Africa before and after industrialization
the industrialization of latecomers' economies
the big push type of industrialization
a globalized economy
selected topics in food history: industrialization and the rise of food processing
selected topics in food history: the 'Mcdonaldization' of the modern economy
selected topics in food history: discussing Italian cuisine as an intangible cultural heritage
selected topics in environmental history: water, energy, and electricity in history
selected topics in environmental history: Holocene vs Anthropocene
selected topics in environmental history: ecological imperialism
the great divergence
the steady state of world economy
the rise of the west
the great transformation of the world economy
the ascent of the western economies
the economy of Asia before and after industrialization
the economy of the Americas before and after industrialization
the economy of Africa before and after industrialization
the industrialization of latecomers' economies
the big push type of industrialization
a globalized economy
selected topics in food history: industrialization and the rise of food processing
selected topics in food history: the 'Mcdonaldization' of the modern economy
selected topics in food history: discussing Italian cuisine as an intangible cultural heritage
selected topics in environmental history: water, energy, and electricity in history
selected topics in environmental history: Holocene vs Anthropocene
selected topics in environmental history: ecological imperialism
Prerequisites for admission
Basic skills in history
Teaching methods
The course envisages two different tracks for attending and non-attending students.
It is structured in two parts. A first cycle of approximately 12 standard lectures will provide the basics features of Economic History with a broad geographic perspective. It will discuss the main features that influenced economic development since the 14th century, including, geography natural endowment, technological change, international trade, institutions and economic policies. A special focus will go to industrialization and the so-called rise of the West and its impact on the global distribution of wealth.
The second part of the course will reconsider this process in the light of food and environmental history and requires mandatory and active participation by students. It will combine some standard lectures on selected topics with cooperative teaching formats. Students will work in small teams, where specific readings will be discussed and used to prepare a short in-class presentation.
It is structured in two parts. A first cycle of approximately 12 standard lectures will provide the basics features of Economic History with a broad geographic perspective. It will discuss the main features that influenced economic development since the 14th century, including, geography natural endowment, technological change, international trade, institutions and economic policies. A special focus will go to industrialization and the so-called rise of the West and its impact on the global distribution of wealth.
The second part of the course will reconsider this process in the light of food and environmental history and requires mandatory and active participation by students. It will combine some standard lectures on selected topics with cooperative teaching formats. Students will work in small teams, where specific readings will be discussed and used to prepare a short in-class presentation.
Teaching Resources
- Track for attending students
(a) Robert Allen, Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
(b) Short essays on the history of food and the environment that will be provided during classes.
- Track for non-attending students
(a) Robert Allen, Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
(b) Robert Marks, The Origins of the Modern World: A Global and Environmental Narrative from the Fifteenth to the Twenty-First Century, Wiley and Sons (from the 3rd edition onwards).
(a) Robert Allen, Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
(b) Short essays on the history of food and the environment that will be provided during classes.
- Track for non-attending students
(a) Robert Allen, Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
(b) Robert Marks, The Origins of the Modern World: A Global and Environmental Narrative from the Fifteenth to the Twenty-First Century, Wiley and Sons (from the 3rd edition onwards).
Assessment methods and Criteria
- Track for attending students
1) Intermediate exam.
A multiple choice test on the topics discussed in class during the first cycle of standard lectures
This tests will count for 10% of the overall exam score and a positive outcome is mandatory to take part to the second part of the course. Questions will make reference to the following reading:
(a) Robert Allen, Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
2) Mandatory in class Teamwork presentation.
Students are asked to prepare a short presentation in which to address a topic selected together with the teacher and related to environmental or food history. Work will be organized in small teams and the results will be presented to (and discussed by) the classroom. The Teamwork will count for 40% of the overall exam score.
3) Written "open-book" exam, structured on one question.
Attending students will take a written exam, in which they will be allowed to use their study materials and notes to answer in essay form to one question on the topics discussed during the whole course. The "open-book" will count for 50% of the total exam score.
Questions will make reference to the following readings:
(a) Robert Allen, Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
(b) Short essays on the history of food and the environment that will be provided during classes.
Important memo: the "open-book" exam option is available only until September (included). In the following dates it will be possible to take the exam only according to the track for non-attending students.
Knowledge and understanding will be verified by analyzing the intermediate test, the teamwork presentation and the "open book" exam contents. The ability in applying knowledge and understanding will be verified by analyzing the teamwork presentation. Learning skills and the ability in making judgments will be verified by analyzing the answer given to the "open book" exam. Communication skills and the ability in using the proper technical language will be verified by considering the teamwork presentation.
- Track for non-attending students
Written exam in essay form structured in 2 two questions each providing a maximum of 15 points. Each question is divided in: (a) a general part providing a maximum of 10 points, and (b) a section devoted to applied historical cases, each providing a maximum of 5 marks. Failing one of the two questions will imply, failing the whole exam.
Questions will make reference to the following readings:
(a) Robert Allen, Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
(b) Robert Marks, The Origins of the Modern World: A Global and Environmental Narrative from the Fifteenth to the Twenty-First Century, Wiley and Sons (from the 3rd edition onwards).
The written exam in essay form will count for test 100% of the total exam score.
Please note that during the exam non-attending students will not be allowed to use their study materials and notes.
Knowledge and understanding will be verified by analyzing the contents of both answers. The ability in applying knowledge and understanding will be verified by analyzing the answers given to the sections devoted to applied historical cases. Learning skills and the ability in making judgments will be verified by analyzing the answers given to the general part of the questions. Communication skills and the ability in using the proper technical language will be verified by analyzing the terms adopted in the answers and the propensity in clarifying their meaning.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
1) Intermediate exam.
A multiple choice test on the topics discussed in class during the first cycle of standard lectures
This tests will count for 10% of the overall exam score and a positive outcome is mandatory to take part to the second part of the course. Questions will make reference to the following reading:
(a) Robert Allen, Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
2) Mandatory in class Teamwork presentation.
Students are asked to prepare a short presentation in which to address a topic selected together with the teacher and related to environmental or food history. Work will be organized in small teams and the results will be presented to (and discussed by) the classroom. The Teamwork will count for 40% of the overall exam score.
3) Written "open-book" exam, structured on one question.
Attending students will take a written exam, in which they will be allowed to use their study materials and notes to answer in essay form to one question on the topics discussed during the whole course. The "open-book" will count for 50% of the total exam score.
Questions will make reference to the following readings:
(a) Robert Allen, Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
(b) Short essays on the history of food and the environment that will be provided during classes.
Important memo: the "open-book" exam option is available only until September (included). In the following dates it will be possible to take the exam only according to the track for non-attending students.
Knowledge and understanding will be verified by analyzing the intermediate test, the teamwork presentation and the "open book" exam contents. The ability in applying knowledge and understanding will be verified by analyzing the teamwork presentation. Learning skills and the ability in making judgments will be verified by analyzing the answer given to the "open book" exam. Communication skills and the ability in using the proper technical language will be verified by considering the teamwork presentation.
- Track for non-attending students
Written exam in essay form structured in 2 two questions each providing a maximum of 15 points. Each question is divided in: (a) a general part providing a maximum of 10 points, and (b) a section devoted to applied historical cases, each providing a maximum of 5 marks. Failing one of the two questions will imply, failing the whole exam.
Questions will make reference to the following readings:
(a) Robert Allen, Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.
(b) Robert Marks, The Origins of the Modern World: A Global and Environmental Narrative from the Fifteenth to the Twenty-First Century, Wiley and Sons (from the 3rd edition onwards).
The written exam in essay form will count for test 100% of the total exam score.
Please note that during the exam non-attending students will not be allowed to use their study materials and notes.
Knowledge and understanding will be verified by analyzing the contents of both answers. The ability in applying knowledge and understanding will be verified by analyzing the answers given to the sections devoted to applied historical cases. Learning skills and the ability in making judgments will be verified by analyzing the answers given to the general part of the questions. Communication skills and the ability in using the proper technical language will be verified by analyzing the terms adopted in the answers and the propensity in clarifying their meaning.
Students with SLD or disability certifications are kindly requested to contact the teacher at least 15 days before the date of the exam session to agree on individual exam requirements. In the email please make sure to add in cc the competent offices: [email protected] (for students with SLD) o [email protected] (for students with disability).
SECS-P/12 - ECONOMIC HISTORY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professor:
Ceccarelli Giovanni Marcello
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment
via Celoria 10, 1st floor (in person) and on Teams (remotely)